Top of the Day

How can we leverage AI to solve justice problems for all?

(Zainab Malik, Maaike de Langen, Mariane Piccinin Barbieri, Ronald Lenz, Tatyana Teplova – OECD.AI – 17 March 2025) Artificial intelligence has become a go-to tool for many tasks and industries. People rely on it to address all sorts of problems in their daily lives – be it a challenging math equation, suggestions on what to watch, or automating work tasks. But what about critical issues affecting the quality of people’s lives, relationships and livelihoods that may require judicial intervention? – https://oecd.ai/en/wonk/how-can-we-leverage-ai-to-solve-justice-problems-for-all

Space supply chain gaps: Propulsion, hardened electronics and laser links

(Theresa Hitchens – Breaking Defense – 17 March 2025) Despite ongoing efforts by the Defense Department to bolster the space supply chain, government and commercial satellite programs continue to struggle with shortfalls in several critical areas, including on-orbit propulsion, optical communications terminals and hardened electronics, according to industry and Pentagon officials. The sluggish flow of key capabilities is a drag on Space Force efforts to rapidly transform its space architecture from handfuls of large satellites to so-called proliferated constellations made up of many small satellites, according to David Gauthier, the former head of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency’s commercial space office. “We find ourselves in a new space race. Companies need to bring new space technology to market quickly, and supply chains are critical to both speed and scale for proliferated architectures,” said Gauthier, now chief strategy officer at consulting firm GXO Inc. “Reliable supply is fundamental for a healthy and vibrant industrial base that enables government space missions.” – https://breakingdefense.com/2025/03/space-supply-chain-gaps-propulsion-hardened-electronics-and-laser-links/

Ukraine develops first-ever 1,864-mile long-range drone amid US testing support

(Kapil Kajal – Interesting Engineering – 17 March 2025) In a significant development for Ukraine’s defense capabilities, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on March 17 that a new long-range drone has completed its testing phase. The drone, designed to enhance combat operations, demonstrated an impressive range of 3,000 kilometers (approximately 1,864 miles). This update came during Zelensky’s evening address following a crucial meeting with the Headquarters of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, which serves as the command and control center for Ukraine’s military operations. – https://interestingengineering.com/military/ukraine-1864-mile-long-range-drone

How Drones Make Civil Wars Worse

(Joshua A. Schwartz, John Chin, Haleigh Bartos – Lawfare – 16 March 2025) The proliferation of drones in the developing world began as a trickle, but now it is a flood. From 2009 to 2018, the vast majority of people killed in drone strikes died in drone operations carried out by the U.S. government. However, in 2021, only 16 percent of fatalities from drone strikes were the result of U.S. military action, and drone attacks occurred in 46 conflicts across 26 different countries. By 2023, 40 states used drones (up from 16 in 2018) and 91 non-state actors launched a drone attack (up from six in 2018), according to data from ACLED (Armed Conflict Location & Event Data) analyzed by the Institute for Economics and Peace. Much like the diffusion of AK-47s drove a global wave of non-state violence in the second half of the 20th century, the proliferation of armed drones today is prolonging and increasing the carnage of civil wars from the Congo and Myanmar to Sudan and Yemen. – https://www.lawfaremedia.org/article/how-drones-make-civil-wars-worse

The Uncertain Future of AI Regulation in a Second Trump Term

(Ferial Saeed – Stimson Center – 13 March 2025) The president’s AI action plan, slated to release this summer, will clarify how the U.S. intends to balance speed and safety within the U.S. AI framework. The current risk-tolerant, decentralized model has been great for speed and innovation, however China’s hybrid model of centralized safety and decentralized regulation, has the country catching up with the U.S. The U.S. lacks comprehensive federal AI legislation, with the recent House AI Task Force recommending the use of existing laws, regulations, and regulatory bodies to develop sector-specific AI regulations. Further national risk mitigation may be necessary for LLMs and other more complex uses of AI. The growing dissonance between the U.S., the EU and China, on a consensus for AI safety is hazardous. Should the U.S. wish to maintain leadership in AI development while ensuring safety and public trust, finding a balance will be key. – https://www.stimson.org/2025/the-uncertain-future-of-ai-regulation-in-a-second-trump-term/

Governance and Legislation

AI Action Plan Should Promote AI Transparency, Accuracy, Effectiveness and Reliability, CDT Says

(Center for Democracy & Technology – 17 March 2025) The Center for Democracy & Technology submitted comments to the Networking and Information Technology Research and Development National Coordination Office on the highest priority actions that should be in the new AI Action Plan required under Executive Order 14179. As this executive order explains, the AI Action Plan would “sustain and enhance America’s global AI dominance in order to promote human flourishing, economic competitiveness, and national security.”. Our comments identify several well-established principles for trustworthy and effective AI that have bipartisan support and acceptance and should form the basis of the AI Action Plan. – https://cdt.org/insights/cdt-submits-comments-on-the-federal-governments-ai-action-plan/

Civil Society Responds to DSA Risk Assessment Reports: An Initial Feedback Brief

(Center for Democracy & Technology – 17 March 2025) The DSA Civil Society Coordination Group, in collaboration with the Recommender Systems Taskforce and People vs Big Tech, has released an initial analysis of the first Risk Assessment Reports submitted by major platforms under Article 42 of the DSA. This analysis identifies both promising practices and critical gaps, offering recommendations to improve future iterations of these reports and ensure meaningful compliance with the DSA. The Digital Services Act (DSA) represents a landmark effort to create a safer and more transparent online environment. Central to this framework are yearly risk assessments required under Articles 34 and 35, which mandate Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs) and Very Large Online Search Engines (VLOSEs) to identify, assess, and mitigate systemic risks posed by their services. – https://cdt.org/insights/dsa-civil-society-coordination-group-publishes-an-initial-analysis-of-the-major-online-platforms-risks-analysis-reports/

Geostrategies

Cineca to House IQM’s Radiance 54 Quantum Computer

(Quantum Insider – 17 March 2025) Cineca announced an agreement with IQM Quantum Computers to install Italy’s most powerful quantum computer. IQM’s Radiance quantum computer, featuring a 54-qubit processing unit, will be integrated into the Leonardo supercomputer in Q4 2025. The on-premises installation at Cineca aims to support advanced scientific research and strengthen Italy’s position in quantum computing. – https://thequantuminsider.com/2025/03/17/cineca-to-house-iqms-radiance-54-quantum-computer/

Tatarstan Quantum Consortium: A New Era for Russian Quantum Technologies

(Quantum Insider – 17 March 2025) The Tatarstan Quantum Consortium was established at a workshop on March 6, 2025, at Innopolis University, aiming to position Tatarstan as a leader in quantum computing and technologies by 2030. Key participants, including Innopolis University, Q Deep, and Kazan-based research institutions, emphasized collaboration across disciplines to advance quantum computing, quantum networks, and quantum sensing. The consortium seeks to create a quantum market by 2027, with a focus on practical applications in industries such as pharmaceuticals, logistics, finance, and materials science. – https://thequantuminsider.com/2025/03/17/tatarstan-quantum-consortium-a-new-era-for-russian-quantum-technologies/

Canada’s NSERC and the NRC Announce Over $7M to Advance Quantum Sensing Technologies

(Quantum Insider – 17 March 2025) NSERC and NRC are providing over CA$11 million (approximately $7.6 million) to fund six collaborative research projects advancing quantum sensing technologies. The initiative is in-line with Canada’s National Quantum Strategy, supporting research, workforce development, and commercialization through partnerships between universities, SMEs, and government agencies. The funded projects are intended to translate quantum sensing from lab to industry, enhancing capabilities in environmental monitoring, healthcare, manufacturing, navigation, and national security. – https://thequantuminsider.com/2025/03/17/canadas-nserc-and-the-nrc-announce-over-7m-to-advance-quantum-sensing-technologies/

Defense, Intelligence, and Warfare

Israeli companies to supply ship-defense suite to European frigates

(Tzally Greenberg – Defense News – 17 March 2025) Rafael and Elbit Systems will supply a European NATO country with electronic countermeasures for protecting frigates from ship-killing missiles, the companies announced on Monday. The systems in question amount to an integrated solution from both companies, featuring Elbit’s DESEAVER MK-4 decoy control and launching system (DCLS), along with a range of Rafael’s countermeasures. – https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2025/03/17/israeli-companies-to-supply-ship-defense-suite-to-european-frigates/

Norwegian soldiers drop tennis balls on tanks to test drone tactics

(Elisabeth Gosselin-Malo – Defense News – 17 March 2025) The Norwegian Army has dropped tennis balls on tanks to test new attack strategies for drones, drawing on tactics seen on the battlefields of Ukraine. Officials staged the evaluation as part of NATO exercise Joint Viking 2025, held in Northern Norway earlier this month. The idea was to test intelligence and surveillance tactics involving the deployment of different types of unmanned aerial vehicles. – https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2025/03/17/norwegian-soldiers-drop-tennis-balls-on-tanks-to-test-drone-tactics/

Trump’s push on border security: US deploys high-tech radars to stop cartel drones

(Neetika Walter – Interesting Engineering – 17 March 2025) The U.S. Army has deployed advanced ground-based radars along the U.S.-Mexico border to track and spot drones as President Donald Trump escalates his war on drug cartels. With Mexican gangs increasingly using weaponized unscrewed aerial systems for smuggling and surveillance, the military is ramping up its defenses to detect and track such aerial threats. Pictures released by the Department of Defense on Monday showed personnel of the Army’s 10th Mountain Division training with the AN/TPQ-53 and AN/MPQ-64 Sentinel radars in Arizona. – https://interestingengineering.com/military/u-s-deploys-advanced-radars-at-mexico-border

Security

Crypto exchange OKX shuts down tool used by North Korean hackers to launder stolen funds

(Jonathan Greig – The Record – 18 March 2025) The Seychelles-based cryptocurrency exchange OKX is temporarily shutting down a popular tool after discovering North Korean hackers were attempting to use it to launder funds stolen from other platforms. OKX published a notice on Sunday claiming it had detected a coordinated effort by the Lazarus Group, one of North Korea’s most prolific hacking outfits, to misuse its decentralized finance (DeFi) services. “After consulting with regulators, we made the proactive decision to temporarily suspend our [decentralized exchange] aggregator services,” the company said. “This move allows us to implement additional upgrades to prevent further misuse.” – https://therecord.media/crypto-okx-shuts-down-exchange

GitHub restores code following malicious changes to tj-actions tool

(Jonathan Greig – The Record – 17 March 2025) GitHub was forced to take action this weekend to help users after a threat actor compromised a popular open source package used by more than 23,000 organizations. On Friday, cybersecurity firm StepSecurity warned of a security incident impacting the tj-actions/changed-files GitHub Action, a popular tool used to track file changes and trigger other actions depending on those alterations. The tool has more than 1 million monthly downloads. According to StepSecurity, the attackers modified code in tj-actions/changed-files that affected public repositories and leaked secrets in logs. – https://therecord.media/github-restores-code-malicious-tj-actions-changes

‘Mora_001’ ransomware gang exploiting Fortinet bug spotlighted by CISA in January

(Jonathan Greig – The Record – 17 March2025) Two vulnerabilities impacting Fortinet products are being exploited by a new ransomware operation with ties to the LockBit ransomware group. Multiple researchers last week spotlighted the exploitation of CVE-2024-55591 and CVE-2025-24472 by a new ransomware group called Mora_001.  The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) gave all federal civilian agencies one week to patch CVE-2024-55591 in January — one of the shortest deadlines it has ever issued — and Fortinet said in an advisory that the bug was being exploited in the wild and later added CVE-2025-24472 to the same advisory. – https://therecord.media/mora001-ransomware-gang-exploiting-vulnerability-lockbit

Frontiers

Norma and Neowiz Partner to Explore Quantum Computing and AI for Game Development

(Quantum Insider – 17 March 2025) Norma, a South Korean quantum security and computing firm, signed an MOU with game developer Neowiz to explore quantum applications in gaming. The collaboration will investigate quantum algorithms for game development, quantum AI to improve classical AI models, and quantum security solutions to protect gaming environments from future cyber threats. Norma’s CEO highlighted the partnership’s goal of accelerating quantum technology adoption in gaming, while Neowiz’s Co-CEO emphasized the industry’s history of integrating advanced technologies. While quantum computing is not yet viable for real-time gaming, hybrid quantum-classical approaches are being explored. The partnership will likely begin with proof-of-concept research on AI models and security applications. – https://thequantuminsider.com/2025/03/17/norma-and-neowiz-partner-to-explore-quantum-computing-and-ai-for-game-development/

Investor Says Quantum Computing Is Underestimated, Likely to Commercialize in a Few Years

(Quantum Insider – 17 March 2025) Quantum computing is still underestimated but could see commercial applications within a few years, according to venture investor Karthee Madasamy. Madasamy, whose fund backs PsiQuantum, said the company’s photon-based approach could make quantum systems easier to scale, potentially accelerating adoption. While Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang suggested practical quantum computing may be decades away, Madasamy said progress is happening faster than many expect. – https://thequantuminsider.com/2025/03/17/investor-says-quantum-computing-is-underestimated-likely-to-commercialize-in-a-few-years/